The Premier League's Project Restart is set to take a significant step forward on Wednesday as clubs vote on a return to full-contact training.
Clubs are expected to approve the protocols during the shareholders’ video-call after another encouraging weekend for Germany’s Bundesliga and promising results from the first two rounds of centralised coronavirus testing.
Premier League medical staff and senior players, managers, club doctors and directors were involved in a series of video calls on Tuesday as Premier League medical chief Mark Gillett put forward proposals for a return to full training.
Among the most pressing concerns for players was how the Premier League can guarantee their safety and what will happen to the rest of the squad if a player involved in contact training tests positive for Covid-19.
The increased risk to BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) players also remains a key issue.
The UK Office for National Statistics has said black people are more than twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people.
But The Times claims a meeting last week with the black, Asian and minority ethnic players' advisory group, aimed at address specific concerns around risks to players, has eased anxieties.
It means clubs are set to push through the next phase of Project Restart, while several players who have stayed away from phase one of the return to training are reportedly expected to return.
Clubs will then attempt to earmark an official restart date in the coming days, with the June 12 "staging post" now looking increasingly unlikely as players and managers push for up to a month's full training before the action resumes.
